President Harry S. Truman Libertyville HS

Election of 1944 Dem nominee: FDR (of course... ) GOP nominee: Thomas Dewey (NY governor) Campaign focused on New Deal, FDR’s popularity Wartime successes during campaign – Liberation of Paris – Battle of Leyte Gulf Results Roosevelt:432 ECV / 25.6 million Dewey: 99 ECV / 22 million

Death of FDR FDR, 62 years, was dying – Paralysis (polio) – Lifetime chain smoker – High blood pressure – Emphysema – Atherosclerosis – Severe heart disease April 12, 1945: FDR died while sitting for portrait His death shocked the nation

Harry S. Truman ( ) Missourian No college degree (2 years) Served in WWI (Artillery) Elected to US Senate from MO, in 1934 – “Truman Committee” investigated fraud, mismanagement in military during WWII Selected VP in 1944 (didn’t want it) VP 82 days before becoming president

President Truman Asked all members of FDR’s cabinet to stay – Central principle of his admin: they advise, he decides, they support – “The Buck Stops Here” – “If you can’t stand the heat…” Avid walker through DC Called “the common man’s common man” (down home, folksy)

Truman: Foreign policy challenges United Nations – Truman strongly supported institution Soviet Union – Aggressively spreading communism in Greece, Eastern Europe, Turkey – “Truman Doctrine”: policy of containment of USSR – US would support “free peoples resisting subjugation” Recognition of Israel, May 14, 1948

Truman: Foreign policy challenges Rebuilding Europe: The Marshall Plan – Reconstruction of participating European states – “Softer” side of Truman Doctrine – Great success in resisting communism and helping Europe rebuild ($12.2 billion over 4 years) Cold War – Truman started policy of confronting USSR, ideologically – Re-organized military services – Created CIA – Created National Security Council Marshall Plan recipients; red bar Shows relative total aid per state

Truman: Domestic Transition Goals of administration for postwar America – Make transition from wartime to a prosperous peace time economy – Resume and extend New Deal social programs Fear: returning vets would cause spike in unemployment, like after WWI

Truman: Domestic Transition “G. I. Bill of Rights” (1944) would aid GIs’ return to civilian life – Education (free college education – 51% of vets) – Housing (100% loans for homes) – Business (loans to start) – Farm (100% loans to buy farms) – 1 year unemployment comp

Truman: Domestic Transition Employment Act of 1946 – Gov’t effort to control economy of US – Goals Promote maximum employment Promote maximum production Promote maximum purchasing power – Created Council of Economic Advisors Advise, assist President in forming economic policy – Created Joint Economic Committee: joint congressional committee to study, plan policies

Resurgent GOP Post war problems in US – Inflation increasing – Labor unrest – Wartime economic controls still in place – World tensions (USSR) “Voter fatigue” – After 14 years of unified Democratic control of gov’t, people wanted change – GOP Slogan: “Had enough?” 1946 Congressional midterm elections – +55 GOP in House, +12 in Senate – GOP in control (last in 1928)

Legislative Accomplishments of the “Do Nothing” Congress Congressional approval of the 22 nd Amendment (President limited to 2 terms) Taft-Hartley Act – Allowed states to adopt “right to work” rules – Drove communists out of labor movement – Adjusted balance of NLRA between business, labor – Unions HATED it!!! Ended wage, price controls (but NOT rent controls) Passed major tax cut

Truman & Civil Rights Commission to study issue – 1947 report – Create Civil Rights Commission – Punish lynching – Abolish poll tax – Create fair employment commission Blasted by Southern Democrats as DOA Truman 1948 Exec Orders – Desegregated federal work force – Desegregated military

1948 Election Truman ran on promise of a “Fair Deal” – National health insurance – Repeal of Taft-Hartley – Aggressive civil rights laws GOP : Thomas Dewey – Controlled Eastern GOP machine “Dixiecrats”: Strom Thurmond – Continue racial segregation “Progressives”: Henry Wallace – FDR’s VP, from – Called for closer relations with USSR – Universal health care

1948 Election Three way split in Democratic party! GOP unified, in control of Congress = very confident Result? Results Truman:303 ECV / 24.1 million Dewey:189 ECV / 22 million Thurmond: 39 ECV / 1.1 million Dems regained control of Congress!!

Truman’s Second Term Dominated by foreign affairs, due to containment doctrine Berlin Airlift Formation of NATO, 1949 Founding of People’s Republic of China, 1949 Soviet espionage and the A-bomb Korean War Support for French in Vietnam